Flooring is one of the most important decorative aspects of your home. Not only does it serve a practical purpose, it’s the backdrop for your furniture and accessories and it sets the overall tone for the space.
In some cases a plain, neutral floor is desirable, while in others something colorful and full of personality is the right decision. If you want to take your flooring to the next level and create something exciting and fun, there are a lot of possibilities.
Area Rugs
Area rugs are the easiest and most popular way to add artwork to your floor. Available in standard sizes including 5′ x 7′, 8′ x 10′ and 9′ x 12′, they come in an unending variety of colors, patterns and styles to suit any room. Keep in mind when decorating with area rugs that the size you choose is very important. The number one decorating mistake people make is to use area rugs that are too small. If you’re not sure of the appropriate size area rug for your space check out this guide to area rug sizes.
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Another thing to be cautious of is pattern. Patterned area rugs are great, but make sure they compliment any patterns that exist in your furniture or on your walls. Pattern on pattern can be a lot of fun, but make sure you now how to mix patterns so that the look doesn’t become visually cluttered and overwhelming.
Carpet Tiles
When most people think of carpet tiles they think about the industrial kind found in office buildings and factories. But carpet tiles have come a long way. Now available in a huge variety of colors and patterns, carpet tiles offer the opportunity to create your own designs suited perfectly to your space and your style. What’s particularly great is that they offer the flexibility to fit into spaces where standard-size rugs may not fit. If you have an L-shaped room or an awkward nook you can use carpet tiles to achieve the look you want. And if there’s a spill or stain on one of the tiles it can be easily lifted out and replaced with a new one.
Parquet
Parquet floors have a reputation for being cheap. That’s because most people tend to associate them with the inexpensive style found in rental apartments. But these are not a true representation of real parquet. Genuine parquet is a pattern of inlaid wood that is actually very luxurious and beautiful, and it’s often associated with grand, expensive homes. Parquet can be created in tons of patterns including herringbone, chevron, basketweave and other geometric patterns ranging from simple to complex. If you want to make a beautiful investment in your floors, parquet is a terrific option.
Tile
Tile is a classic way to add pattern and color to a floor. Mostly used in entryways, mudrooms, kitchens and baths, tile comes in a variety of materials, the most popular being ceramic and porcelain. Both are durable and stand up to all sorts of wear and tear. What’s great about tile is that you can experiment with color if you wish, but you can also use the same color tile to make interesting and unique patterns. Much like parquet flooring you can use it to create patterns from ultra simple to stunningly elaborate. And the cost of tile is a lot less than parquet.
Paint
Painted floors are not for the faint of heart, but if you’re willing to take a risk the rewards can be huge! Almost any type of solid surface floor can be painted, you just need to prepare it appropriately (that can mean cleaning, sanding, or another type of prep depending on the material), and when your done seal it appropriately. Obviously if you have stunning floors you might not want to paint over them, but if they’re in rough shape and you don’t want to pay for something new, give paint a try. You can do a single color (white is always popular but not the only choice!) or try a pattern such as stripes, chevrons or even plaid. Just remember that once you’ve painted it’s very difficult to go back, so be sure it’s what you want before you start. But the good news is that if you decide you don’t like what you’ve done you can always paint over it.
SOURCE:http://livingrooms.about.com/od/How-to-Decorate/fl/How-to-Create-Artwork-for-Your-Floor.htm
